Noncreeping barrel



Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ders Manufacturing N.Y.

Application April 16,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to barrels and like containers, and it hasparticular reference to the provision of an improved article which maybe assembled with like structures in secure stacked relation.

It is a common practice to pile or stack barrels in rows and tiers andin such fashion that the stack assumes a regular pyramidal form, inwhich the upper barrels are supported by pairs of barrels disposedbeneath. When barrels havin smooth chimes are stacked in this manner,there is a tendency for the stack to collapse under the influence ofadventitious vibratory forces. Such tendency produces a serious hazardto the wellbeing of the workmen, and it has been particularly noticed inconnection with the stacking and handling of steel beer barrels, as usedin the brewing industry.

As a means of preventing this creeping, and its attendant hazards, ithas heretofore been proposed to deform the chimes, which constitute thebearing surfaces, in such fashion as to provide locking protuberances ordepressions, so that, upon stacking, the barrels engage with each otherto an extent sufiicient to resist adventitious movement. While suchmeans as I am familiar with are generally effective, situations arise inwhich some controlling objection may be raised against one proposal oranother. Thus, in some cases, the established modes of handling barrelsmay constitute an objection, and, in other situations, the barrel may beof such size, or formed of such weight of metal, as to make the use ofprior means either difficult or too expensive.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a noveland improved antiskid or non-creeping barrel or like container, in whichmeans are provided on the bearing areas to insure adequateinter-engagement or looking, and withal avoid the objections alluded toabove. The principles of the invention, and ways in which they may beapplied in practice, will best be understood from a perusal of thefollowing description, read in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing, in full lines, the top of a barrel, and,in dotted lines, two superimposed barrels;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of the barrel chime, showing theanti-skid elements therein; and,

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a stack of barrels.

Referring first to Fig. 3, there is shown a plurality of barrels havingbelly portions ll of maximum diameter and chime portions [2 of lessCompany, Inc., Buffalo,

1935, Serial No. 16,636

diameter, disposed in two tiers l3 and H to constitute a stack. It willbe observed that barrels A and B of tier [4 are close to each other,with their bellies II in tangential contact, and they are regularlysuperimposed on barrel C of tier I3, so that the point of tangency ofbarrels A and B would, if projected, pass through the center of thecircumference of chime E on barrel C. This arrangement is also shown inFig. l, in which the tangent point of barrels A and B and the center ofbarrel C lie in a straight line containing the point 0. Likewise, thecircumference of barrel C directly underlies the centers X and Y ofbarrels A and B.

The foregoing description is generally applicable to a stack of barrelsof the same size disposed in a regular pyramidal fashion, and, as aconsideration of such stacking may be helpful in connection with furtherexplanation, it will hereinafter he alluded to as regular stacking or bylike expression.

A typical formation of the bearing surface or chime E of barrel C, inaccordance with the present invention, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Itwill be observed that barrel C is illustrated as a sheet metal barrelhaving an integrally formed chime E, but it is to be understood thatsuch need not be the case. Likewise, it may be mentioned that simply forexemplary purposes, it may be assumed that barrel 0 is formed from. twosheet metal blanks from the same die or by the same tools and procedure,into a pair of cup-like halves, which are later placed one on the otherand are welded around the belly l I. Other barrel forms, or methods ofassembly may, however, be used in conformity with the principles of theinvention.

The chime E is deformed with a plurality of protuberances 2|, which, asshown, are defined by a succession of ridges or crests 22 alternatingwith troughs 23, merging into the sides of the barrel through roundedcorners 24. These elements may be made of varying depth, as desired, butit will be observed that the ridge lines 22 all extend in the samedirection (that is, clockwise or counter-clockwise) around the annulusforming the barrel end. This is a significant feature of the invention.Likewise, it will be observed that the trough lines 23 also extend in asimilar direction, and, within limits, the angle which these lines maketo the intersecting chime radius of each is also a constant.

The reason for this form of construction will now be explained. It is anobject of the invention to provide a barrel having anti-skid elements,such as the elements 2|, which will inter-engage with like elements of asimilar barrel, such as the barrels A and B. The form of elements justdescribed, when properly made, attain this result, and also reinforcethe barrel end without undue deformation of the metal. However, theseelements cannot be formed in a haphazard manner, if adequate locking isto be secured, and the true mode of forming the ridge and trough linesmay be now understood by reference to Fig. 1.

Let A and B represent the great circles of two barrels tangent at point0, and let the full line maximum circumference of barrel C represent theprojected trace of an adjacent regularly stacked barrel. If circles A,B, and C have the same diameter, and if it be further assumed that theseare perfectly cylindrical barrels, then it is apparent that the arc MXNrepresents the overlap of one barrel on the other, and that this arc,subtended by the angle MON, must always be 120". In such case, nosuccession of lines can be drawn on the barrel ends,which lines all runin the same direction, unless they intersect each other at either orboth of the points M and N. The are MXN therefore represents the maximumoverlap for regular stacking, but it is inconsistent with a condition ofunilateral interlocking.

If the overlap are be progressively diminished, the limiting value iszero, in which case the lines assumed to be drawn on the barrel endwould lie in the same direction, but no bearing surface would beafforded, and hence stacking would be impossible. If the angle wereslightly increased, a slight bearing surface would be provided, butinterlocking at both points M and N would still be generally impossiblewith unilaterally extended protuberances.

I have discovered, however, that when the relation between the barreldiameter at the belly, and the chime diameter is such that the arc ofthe overlap is subtended by an angle of approximately ninety degrees, acondition arises at which interlocking may be effected. Thus, in thebarrels A, B, and C, it will be observed that the relation between thebelly radius and the chime radius is such that the overlap arc issubtended by the angle POR, which is a right angle. With thisrelationship, and upon regular stacking, barrels A and C contact atzones l5 and it, while barrels B and C contact at zones ii and i8, andarcs l5-l6 and ll-l represent half the total circumference of annulus E.

If, with this relationship established, a plurality of radial lines arenow drawn through the centers of the proposed anti-skid elements, andthese elements are laid oif with their ridge lines 22 disposed at anangle of 45 to the radius, then the protuberances will all run aroundthe barrel end in the same direction, and will change angular direction,relative to a base line such as the axis XOY, ninety degrees in passingfrom point P to point B. The directional change of the ridges over anare equal to the overlap is thus equal to the overlap itself.

Reverting now to the suggestion heretofore made, that the two halves ofthe barrel could be made with the same dies, and thus identical, butlater abutted, it will be understood that in doing so, the circulardirection of the lines at each end of the barrel will be reversed, whenviewed from a fixed point. Thus, in looking down on the stack as shownin Fig. 1, the lower chimes D and F of barrels A and 13 show ridgesrunning counterclockwise, whereas the top chime E of barrel C shows theridges running clockwise, although with the same angular change.Accordingly, the superimposed ridge lines, as at bearing zone l5, areperpendicular to axis XOY, while at zone it they are both parallel tothe same reference line. Accordingly, when the barrels are stacked, thecrests and troughs of the respective protuberances interlock at allbearing zones, thus effectively securing the uppermost barrels fromcreeping over the supporting tiers.

It is not to be supposed, from this mathematical form of discussion,that the angular values given are absolute, although it will be apparentthat close adherence to them is productive of the best results. I havefound in practice that the arc of overlap may vary as much as tendegrees without introducing such irregularities as to prevent successfullocking. Likewise, depending upon the depth of the protuberances 2!, theaugularity of the troughs 23 may be varied from the normal inclinationof 45. Most effective results, however, are achieved by adhering to thecriteria given. It is of interest to note that, when the overlap are forthe chime is about an enhanced balance is imparted to the barrel,enabling it to be tipped end over end and otherwise handled in an easymanner. It is also to be noted that when the ridge angle is normal, 2.condition of complementary angles is established for points [5, l5, andll, l8.

Barrels made in accordance with the foregoing principles, and in whichthe protuberances or essential interlocking elements all slope in aunilateral direction, may be easily removed from the stack by a slightrotational effort, although they are firmly held against accidentalslipping or creeping. This feature also facilitates handling at thepoint of use.

In conformity with the patent statutes, I have described my invention interms of the best practical embodiment now known to me, and I have alsoendeavored to set forth my understanding of its principles. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications andvariations may be resorted to, but all these I intend to encompasswithin the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A barrel having a belly and chimes at each end, the relation between thebelly and chime diameters being such that when said barrel is regularlystacked with like barrels, the overlap of the chimes of contactingbarrels is between 80 and a plurality of closely spaced protuberances onthe chimes, said protuberances being defined by crests all running inthe same direction around the chime and at an angle of substantially 45to the intersecting radius passing through each, whereby, upon regularstacking, said barrels will be interlocked against adventitiousvibratory forces.

JOSEPH D. LEAR.

